Casa Inc. recently held a ribbon cutting for its new, 16-bed, $6.2 million facility in Scarborough, which is designed to provide 24-hour nursing and other therapeutic services to the disabled residents.

The nonprofit received a loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s rural development program to help fund construction of its new facility, which was a long time in coming, according to

Anne D. Walp, the executive director at Casa.

In 1982, she said, the agency opened a residential facility in Scarborough for people with intellectual disabilities that also have ongoing medical needs requiring 24-hour nursing care. Ten years later, that facility expanded from eight beds to 16.

Seven years ago, Casa began fundraising for a new, updated facility that would “provide a comfortable home, excellent quality of life and expanded therapeutic options” for the residents, Walp said.

She added, “The residents all seem delighted with the new space. They now have much more room to move about and gather for activities and socializing. Another notable addition is a therapeutic swimming pool – donated in memory of Richard T. White, father of Casa’s first resident and former board member – allowing for an important aspect of daily treatment and activity for many of the residents.”

Walp also said that Casa is “extremely fortunate” to have received a loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which was key to moving the project forward.

“Michael Jenkins, from (the department’s) Scarborough office was instrumental to the application and financing process from the very first day,” she said. “We were honored to have the under secretary for rural development, Lisa Mensah, as our keynote speaker at the ribbon cutting on June 24.”

Since its founding, Walp said, the goal of Casa Inc. has been to

ensure that “people with disabilities have safe, healthy and secure homes that promote growth and independence. The number and breadth of our services has continued to grow over the years, yet our mission has remained highly relevant as we now serve children and adults in Casa-owned, as well as private, homes.”

Walp said that Casa has “always had a great working relationship with the town and have felt very supported by them and the community, (which is) vital to our success and that of our residents. As this new project began to take shape, there was never a question that we’d like to continue calling Scarborough our home.”

In late June, Casa Inc. held a ribbon cutting for its new, $6.2 million facility in Scarborough. Pictured, from left, are Debra Nugent Johnston, president of the Casa board; Anne Walp, executive director at Casa; resident Christopher White; Lisa Mensah, under secretary for the Rural Development Program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture; Roberta White, mother to Christopher; and Virginia Manuel, state director of the Rural Development Program. Photo by Emily Cannon